Conscious Thought June 25, 2016

Take every thought captive.
2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV 

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8 ESV 

Our dog, Roxie, is a big, lumbering, lovable Ozarks-mix mutt.  Part boxer, part German Shepherd, part Labrador, part goofball.  She stalks imaginary opossoms in the neighbor's trees, "harrumps" us when we don't let her outside quick enough in the mornings, and  let's out a satisfied sigh when she settles in each evening before falling asleep.  She also eats- lots.  Although she is getting older, her appetite has not abated at all.  

In order appease her appetite, Kristi and I have an agreement in place that I feed Roxie in the morning and Kristi takes care of the evening feeding.  Simple right?  Not so much.  Roxie's food bowl is in the basement, and Kristi spends little time there.  I am in the basement more frequently and am apt to notice an empty food bowl late into the evening that has not been filled.  Many times I have filled the bowl, but with great production and drama.

Perhaps I will tap out a loud rhythm on the bowl as I ascend the stairs to the food bin.  Or maybe I announce, "I am feeding Roxie."  It might be even more pointed, "Are you going to feed Roxie?"  Usually when I handle the evening feedings in this manner, it creates friction between Kristi and me.

Last week when I was providing Roxie her evening meal I found myself once again nursig martyr-complex thoughts.  Instead of traveling down that road, I choose to think of all the other things Kristi does to make our house a home.  The meals she prepares.  The clean laundry that appears neatly folded on the drying.  The beautiful flowers she has planted.  All of a sudden walking up 12 steps to the garage to put two scoops of dog food into a stainless steel bowl seemed very insignificant.  Certainly not worthy of berating the most wonderful person in my life.  My irritation with became thankfulness for.

Our thoughts can ruin a moment, a day, or a lifetime.  Take them captive.  Think only of those things which are "true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, and/or worthy of praise."
 


After thought:  As I was typing the title for today's entry, I wondered if it were possible to have an "unconscious" thought.  Can we have thoughts of which we are unaware?  Based on these two verses, I would posit, "No."  If we are encouraged to control our thoughts, then I don't believe we would have unconscious rouge thoughts bouncing around in our brains.